Today was a landmark day in the history of North East politics, as the newly-created North of Tyne Combined Authority met for the first time.

After Parliament finally approved a £600m devolution deal last week, leaders from Newcastle , North Tyneside, and Northumberland councils held the new authority’s first cabinet meeting in Morpeth.

Among their first pledges, the cabinet promised to pursue the re-opening of the Newcastle to Northumberland railway line.

Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes said he expects the authority to be in the "Premier League" of government investment, and praised the "grown up politics that the region has lacked for a long time" which saw Labour and Conservative councils come together to make devolution a reality.

The NTCA will appoint an interim mayor to lead the region in December, ahead of voters choosing a first directly-elected mayor next May.

Meeting over

Interim mayor

A mayor won’t be elected until May 2 but someone will need to fill the position until then.

Here’s how that process is going to work.

14:51

Nick Forbes speaks

Here are some comments from the leader of Newcastle City Council:

14:36

More from council leaders

Here’s some more from Dan:

14:19

Making a case for super-fast broadband

Promises of a better transport system, faster digital infrastructure across the region.

The first steps will include putting a case to government for super-fast broadband and investing in the Newcastle - North Tyneside - Northumberland rail line.

14:14KEY EVENT

'Time to start delivering on the region’s ambitions'

Pat Ritchie, the new authority’s head of paid service, is now outlining the vision for the North of Tyne.

She says the time for conversations on process and governance is over, and that now is the time to start delivering on the region’s ambitions.

14:14

'Grown up politics'

Newcastle city council leader Nick Forbes says this new authority represents the kind of “grown up politics that the region has lacked for a long time”, with different political parties coming together.

14:13

'Extremely frustrating journey'

Norma Redfearn says this has been an “extremely frustrating” journey to get here, but that the new authority will make a big difference to the region.

14:10

North Tyneside mayor Norma Redfearn appointed as chair

North Tyneside mayor Norma Redfearn has been appointed as chair of the new authority, before an interim mayor is appointed next month.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

14:08KEY EVENT

First ever meeting is under way

And we’re off!

14:07

Projects for possible funding

Dan Holland, who is now at the meeting, has tweeted this about potential projects identified for funding:

14:06

What about the other North East councils?

The three NTCA councils have broken away from the North East Combined Authority (NECA), after a devolution deal involving all seven of the region’s local authorities broke down in 2016. That leaves Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham remaining in NECA, though the door has been left open to them to join the new devolved authority in the future.

An inaugural meeting of the new NECA leadership board is due to be held next Tuesday, November 13.

A new joint committee is being established to oversee transport issues covering the whole region, including the Tyne and Wear Metro.

14:06

What else is going to be decided this week?

The other big decision facing the fledgling authority this week is agreeing its first policies and identifying its priority areas for investment.

The cabinet members - Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes, his deputy Joyce McCarty, North Tyneside mayor Norma Redfearn, her deputy Bruce Pickard, and Northumberland County Council chief Peter Jackson - will also allocate their portfolio roles, make appointments to various committees and outside bodies, and adopt the NTCA constitution.

13:38

Who is going to be the mayor and when will they be chosen?

The region’s first directly-elected mayor will be chosen by voters in an election next May, and the candidates for that election have not yet been selected.

In the meantime, an interim mayor will be appointed to guide the authority through its first few months.

How that selection process works is one of the first items on the agenda for Thursday afternoon’s meeting at Morpeth Town Hall.

It is expected that anyone holding an elected office above parish council level in the three local authority areas will be eligible to put their name forward for the interim position, before an appointment in made in December.

13:16

What is the North of Tyne Combined Authority?

The new body covers the Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland council areas and holds a range of powers that the North East has never had before.

Those powers include local control of a £23m per year budget for adult education, control over developing land for economic growth and regeneration, and projects to grow the digital sector and low-carbon economy.

According to the Government, the devolution deal is expected to generate £1.1bn for the local economy, 10,000 new jobs, and drive over £2.1bn in private sector investment.